Abstract
M.A. (Social Work)
Lack of appropriate facilities for the mildly mentally disabled
children in the black communities of the Witwatersrand was a
source of concern for parents. These parents did not want their
children to attend the "training centres for the mentally
handicapped children" as they felt their children functioned above
the criteria used at these centres. Some parents, as a result,
choose to keep their children at home.
This study was undertaken to research the hypothesis that mildly
mentally disabled children could benefit from educational
facilities and programs. Respondents were parents of the affected
children and teachers from the training centres in Soweto, East
Rand and Alexandra.
An exploratory study was conducted. Forty teachers administered
the questionnaires and trained interviewers assisted 93 parents to
complete their questionnaires. Problems were encountered due to
wrong addresses (many houses were then unnumbered in Soweto) and
reluctance from some respondents to participate.
The results confirmed the hypothesis as both teachers and parents
felt that alternative facilities to the training centres were
needed for the mildly mentally disabled children, that teachers
should be qualified in that special field of teaching, and more
contact between teachers and parents was recommended,
A multi-disciplinary approach in the treatment program was also an
important factor, unfortunately none of the centres had more than
three professionals. Social workers were used by other
professionals to provide services from the birth of the disabled
child as support systems, catalysts and advisers to parents. The
social worker's role is to educate, empower, support, mediate,
liaise with the external resources and nurture the person to
independence and self-reliance.